Registered emotional support dog allowed?

[Claudia1]

Are registered emotional support dogs allowed in the parks and in the resorts? A family member traveling with us needs to know.

 

[Robo]

Are registered emotional support dogs allowed in the parks and in the resorts? A family member traveling with us needs to know.

Yes

 

[livndisney]

Yes

Can you provide a link to that info?

 

[SueM in MN]

Emotional support dogs are not considered service dogs under the ADA and people using emotional support dogs do not have the same legal right to have their dogs accompany them.

The definition of service dog under the ADA includes that the dogs must have been individually trained to do work or tasks that are needed for a person with a disability.
Many emotional support dogs do not do anything specific, but are there to be petted or provide comfort and emotional support. Those are not considered work or tasks and don't require require any training.
http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Are registered emotional support dogs allowed in the parks and in the resorts? A family member traveling with us needs to know.

Yes they are allowed.

 

[ZoZo]

If you go to disneyworld.com, there's a section about Service Animals under the Guest Services area. It outlines things pretty specifically.

 

[dburg30]

If you go to disneyworld.com, there's a section about Service Animals under the Guest Services area. It outlines things pretty specifically.

If it's this link, not really sure it outlines it specifically. And I think the difference here is a service animal and an emotional support animal. Just hate for the person to get wrong information? I know there are people that have massive knowledge, but seems there is a bit of difference here?

I think the person should check with WDW directly and be very specific about what it is. Was just looking and looks like you have service dogs, trained to actually be an extension of the persons body due to a physical disability, ie: guide dogs for the blind. I found this link that does talk about differences between service dogs, Psychiatric Service Animals, and Emotional Support Animals. Now if Florida recognizes ESA's as service animals then the story is over, if they dont, there could be an issue. The big difference seems to be between 'service' and 'support' Just would hate for someone to get denied because the animal isnt an actual service animal.

 

[DisneyDetective]

May i ask what a emotional support dog is?

 

[Gracie09]

Service dogs are ( trained for a specific purpose) not emotional support animal

 

[Robo]

I'm sticking with, "Yes."

I've been here awhile.

 

[SueM in MN]

I paste the ADA information link in a post above.
The WDW service dog information someone else posted a link to is about Service Dogs, not emotional suppor dogs.

This is a link to Emotional Support Animal information from Service Dogs of Florida, which explains the differences between a Service a Dog and Emotional support dog well. It also explains Florida rules for where emotional support dogs are not allowed to accompany their person.
http://2012.servicedogsfl.org/?p=22

And a link from one if the Emotional Support Dog registration organizations also says, no, they are not considered Service Dogs (which is consistent with the ADA and national law.
http://www.nsarco.com/emotionalrights.html

So, according to all those, the answer would be Service Dogs are allowed. Emotional Support dogs would not be.

 

[dburg30]

I'm sticking with, "Yes."

I've been here awhile.

And I know you have, and you very well may be right. Just think the OP was looking for a bit more assurance then 'yes' without any backing up. THAT would be a trip ruiner if someone showed up to WDW with a dog thinking it could go with them / stay with them, and all the sudden it could not since it wasnt a 'service' dog..

 

[tajz90]

OP should call and confirm, but I'm going with yes. Last time we were at Disney, we saw a fluffy white pup in the park. A cage was being set up at Everest for the pup to stay in while the owner rode the ride. We couldn't help ourselves and we asked. The reply was "the dog is for emotional support".

 

[LilyWDW]

I would go with the information Sue posted. She is the mod for the DISabilities forum and knows her stuff. Especially since she has posted the ADA information and the Florida state information about the law.

I think what it comes down to is that Disney may or may not allow emotional support animals based off of policy, but they are not required to by law (as the ADA does not protect them).

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Service dogs are ( trained for a specific purpose) not emotional support animal

This is not necessarily entirely true. Many emotional support dogs go through training specifically to work with the person they've been assigned to. Here in Australia, the emotional support dogs that couldn't quite cut it as guide dogs. They get retrained and given to people who need emotional assistance. I'm not sure how it works there.

 

[JanaDee]

This is not necessarily entirely true. Many emotional support dogs go through training specifically to work with the person they've been assigned to. Here in Australia, the emotional support dogs that couldn't quite cut it as guide dogs. They get retrained and given to people who need emotional assistance. I'm not sure how it works there.

Anyone can give the label "emotional support dog" to any dog here. No documentation or special training needed.

They are not service dogs as specified under the ADA and Disney does not allow them.

 

[Gracie09]

This is not necessarily entirely true. Many emotional support dogs go through training specifically to work with the person they've been assigned to. Here in Australia, the emotional support dogs that couldn't quite cut it as guide dogs. They get retrained and given to people who need emotional assistance. I'm not sure how it works there.

The definition is the us is trained for a specific task. So detecting low blood sugar, turning on lights, leading the blind etc.

Sitting on a lap and allowing themselves to be pet or just being there is not a task. When I worked at a university we dealt with this a few times. Students with proper documentation could have an emotional support animal in some campus housing but they could bring them to class. The laws are pretty specific as to the definitions

 

[Magpie]

Regardless of whether Emotional Support Animals are "officially" allowed or not, I strongly suspect Disney would allow them. Especially if it's a dog, and not something like, say, a ferret or a snake.

Disney prides itself on accommodating people with disabilities, above and beyond the minimum that's required by law.

Calling to confirm can't hurt, of course.

 

[bastos]

I would absolutely call and confirm - in WRITING from multiple people at Disney World - one way or another.

 

[JanaDee]

I would absolutely call and confirm - in WRITING from multiple people at Disney World - one way or another.

Calling and confirming will get you as many different answers as people you talk to.